Pottery Barn Inspired Dining Table

When I spotted this reddish finished table I knew I wanted to try a Pottery Barn inspired light finish on it. So that is just what I did. Let me share my version of this look.

The fold down edges make this table a great size for many spots. It is also sturdy and simply styled. But the dark finish needed to be updated to a lighter color that is currently trending.

First order of business was to remove the reddish stain. EZ Strip paint and varnish stripper is my current go to stripper.

I brushed on a thick (maybe too thick in some areas) coat after a good shaking of the container and let it sit to do its magic.

After about 30 minutes I scraped the old finish and extra stripper off with a metal scraper keeping a flat surfaces and long strokes.

Striping scraping video

This is how I disposed of the gunk after my 3 projects stripped at the same time.

The other 2 projects were an antique accent table and a saddle stool.

The stripper needs to be neutralized once removed. Here is my neutralizing video

This is the results after the first stripping.

The next day I worked on the edges and the legs/apron of the table.

Day 2 progress

Once the surface dried it showed all kinds of sanding pig tails or swirls in the veneer finish. Was this done before the original finish or was it redone in the past and stained red??

I took the legs off to have better surface area to work on.

The legs were power sanded to remove the remaining finish and get back to bare solid wood.

Below are 3 sanding videos on the legs using my Festool Rotex 90 sander

All 4 legs completely sanded on all 4 sides.

Today my new Festool ETS 125 arrived. Perfect timing to sand the top as it has a 5" sanding pad.

Here it is on my first table top sanding in action.

Sanding progress carefully done on the thin veneer.

The wood tones are not quite the same once back to bare wood but the refinishing will help bring them together.

This table top is thin veneer over MDF so the edges were hand sanded. The video above shows the process.

Found the table information underneath - this table was built in 2013.

The edges are not candidates for power sanding so to remove the remaining finish I used my favorite carbide scraper from Richard tools

Enjoy these painting videos I hope help show my white wash painting process. I am applying Dixie Belle silk mineral paint in endless shore that has been watered down.

The warm white silk mineral paint going on the legs video.

One leg was set in place to gauge the look intended quickly.

The top was flipped over and ready to be painted.

How I white wash the table top video.

1/2 done in endless shore silk mineral paint

Finishing the top video and how the big daddy brush makes this finish so much easier.

Here is the big daddy brush.

The fold down edges needed a smaller brush. I used the largest Artist Brush to get the paint in these narrow areas.

The table top complete. You can see the watered down paint still allows the wood grain to show thru nicely.

Once the paint is dry it is lightly sanded with a sanding sponge to smooth the surface like silk.

The legs were then given a wash of tobacco Voodoo Gel Stain. This step gives the depth and darker coloring to create the Pottery Barn inspired finish. Have a Fine Mist Spray Bottle to add a bit of movement where needed thru this whole finish process.

video of how I apply

The shorter version video of how I apply the tobacco Gel Stain

I apply the stain with a Fine Mist Spray Bottle and an applicator sponge. This video helps to demonstrate.

The tobacco stain was applied over the table top next.

And a video of doing the edges in the tobacco Gel Stain.

Again when the surfaces were dry they were all lightly sanded then clear coated with satin clear coat applied with an applicator sponge .

Clear coating the legs with satin clear coat applied with an applicator sponge too.

clear coating the legs a second coat

Once inside to stage, the edges were given another coat of the tobacco Gel Stain

wiped on with a paper towel

applying another coat of Gel Stain to darken the apron edges

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Just look at this finished table

and here it is in the customers home

Links to the Dixie Belle products are for your convenience. My affiliation with this company does not increase prices on your end, your purchases via my links do however provide a small subsidy which allows me to keep providing these free tutorials. Thank you!

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